It is important to have a first aid kit that is well stocked and one you check often to make sure you have everything you need, and it is all in good condition. A lot of people have at least one in the home, two if you have a larger home, and then have a smaller one in the car too. A personal kit that you carry around with you is useful too, especially if you have children prone to scraped knees and the like! Put them all somewhere that is easy for all the adults in the home to reach, but not where young children can reach. Older children should understand the importance of the kits, where they are kept and why they should not mess around with them. You can buy ready-made kits or you can make your own first aid kit. Here is a look at some of the products you should have in them.
Essential first aid products
Here are some of the products you might want to include in your kit;
- Elastic wrap bandages
- Cotton balls
- Instant cold pack
- Sterile bandages and gauze of different sizes
- Adhesive tape
- Butterfly strips
- Mask
- Large triangular sling-type bandage
- Eye pad
- Lubricant
- Safety pins of different sizes
- Tweezers
- Scissors
- Mixed sized plastic bags
- Cotton buds
- A few pairs of gloves
- Thermometer
- Hand sanitizer
- Eyewash
- Antiseptic wipes
- Something with bulb suction to flush wounds
- Syringe
- First-aid book
- Saline for flushing wounds
- Hydrogen peroxide
Medications to include in the kit
Some of the medications to include in your first aid kit are;
- Antibiotic cream
- Allergy medications
- Anti-diarrhea medication
- Pain relief spray
- Cold and cough medications for adults and children
- Antacids
- Aloe vera
- Laxatives
- Calamine lotion
- Personal medications
- Painkillers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- Aspirin is a good one to keep in case of heart attacks as long as they are not allergic, do not give it to children
Emergency things to include
Some handy things to include so they are right there in case you are out camping with it and something happens, or if there is a power outage, are;
- Medical history forms and consent forms
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Waterproof matches
- Emergency contact numbers and also include numbers like your doctor
- A set of spare batteries and torch
- Waterproof pen and notepad
- Spare emergency blanket
- Solar charger for your mobile phone
Check your first aid kit regularly
It is important to regularly check the kit because as you use the essential first aid products like the pain relief spray, you will need to replace them. Also when some things are not used they can actually go out of date and so need updating. It is also a very good idea that at least one person living in the house has attended some basic first aid training. Take a look online to see where your nearest course is. Make sure children are prepared in an age-appropriate way so they know some basic reactions that are a good start to understanding first aid. Cleaning wounds, holding up a cut and such.